Top Thing to Do and See in Tibet

Tibet is one of the most popular and attractive tourist destinations in western China. It is noted for its beautiful landscapes, centuries-old history, unique culture and local customs, as well as its religious flavour and many places of historical interest.

1. Potala Palace

It is located in the middle of Lhasa city and was first built by King Songtsen Gampo in 637 for the purpose of greeting his bride Princess Wen Cheng of Tang Dynasty in China.Today the Potala Palace has been turned into a museum. The Potala Palace was listed to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1994.

The magnificent Potala Palace, once the seat of the Tibetan government and the winter residence of the Dalai Lamas, is Lhasa's cardinal landmark. Your first sight of its towering, fortress-like walls is a moment you'll remember for a long time.

An architectural wonder even by modern standards, the palace rises 13 storeys from 130m-high Marpo Ri (Red Hill) and contains more than a thousand rooms. Pilgrims and tourists alike shuffle down through the three storeys, trying to take in the magnificent chapels and prayer halls.

Its attractiions:
* White Palace: used for the living room of Dalai Lama;
* Red Palace: used for religious functions.

2. Jokhang Temple

The 1300-year-old Jokhang Temple is the spiritual heart of Tibet: the stream of awestruck pilgrims prostrating themselves to testament of its timeless allure.

The two-storey Jokhang is the best visited in the morning, though the crowds of pilgrims can be thick. Access is possible in the afternoon through a side entrance but the interior chapels are often shut and there are no pilgrims.

3. Barkhor Street

Barkhor Street, another symbol of Lhasa, is a must-see place for tourists in Tibet. Barkhor Street is a historical and religious street surrounding Jokhang Temple and located in the downtown area of Lhasa.

4.Namtso Lake

Namtso Lake is one of the most beautiful nature views in Tibet. It looks like a slice of mirror which reflects the pure snow mountains and blue sky and forms breathtaking inverted images in the water. Ranked as one of two holy lakes in Tibet, Namtso lake is also a popular place for pilgrimage and meditation. The great pilgrimage, Namtso Outer Kora takes place in April every 12 years according to the Tibetan Lunar Calendar

5. Great Monastery

Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery and Ganden Monastery are renowned as "three great monasteries" in Lhasa.

Drepung Monastery

Drepung Monastery used to be the largest monastery of Tibetan Buddhism, especially known as the site of the annual Shoton Festival. On its heyday, it had more than 10 thousands of monks. It was built in the year of 1416 by the disciple of the famous Tsongkhapa Master - Jamyang Chojey. It collected plenty of historical and cultural relics and Buddhism sculptures. Moreover, from the monastery, you can enjoy an amazing mountain view.

Sera Monastery

Sera Monastery was built in the year of 1419. From the past to nowadays, it has been famous for its featured "Buddhism debating". Hundreds of monks study and live here. They come to the courtyard of monastery and start to debate about Buddhism and philosophy with each other everyday.

Ganden Monastery

Ganden Monastery is the “leader monastery” of the Gelug Sect. It was built by the founder of the Gelug Sect - Tsongkhapa Maste. Since then, It has become the seat of Geluk administrative and political power. There is currently a Buddhism University in the Ganden Monastery, and more than 400 monks studying here. It is more than 50km away from Lhasa. Hiking around is strongly recommended.

6. Gyantse Old Street

Located right outside the monastery, 90 kilometers away from Shigatse, Gyangtse Old Street is long and comfortably wide, paved with flagstones and clay. On both sides of the street are one or two storey houses built in traditional Tibetan style and decorated with white walls and vermeil door. Some families still keep the cattle barn under the rooms people live in, with cow-dung on the walls of their house.

This is an ideal place to capture an insight into the daily life of the Tibetan people. Walking along the street, you will hardly see a car or lorry driving through as ox wagons are still the most common everyday mode of transportation for the local residents, although a bicycle supplements them sometimes. Therefore, the air here is excellent, unlike other urban areas that are heavily polluted.

7. Lhasa Shopping

Lhasa has many special local products for travelers, such as: Tibetan Thangka, Tibetan silver ornaments, Dzi beads, aweto, yak wool, Tibetan liquor and Lhasa sweet tea, as well as a variety of distinctive national style handicrafts.

Traditional Tibetan medicines are well-known all over the world, and tourists should make the most of their opportunity to purchase such rare medicinal herbs, such as: glossy ganoderma, aweto, Tibetan sheep's horn, Saussurea, as well as other special Tibetan medicines made by lamas and local doctors.

8. Lhasa Cuisine

Lhasa has the best local restaurant in Tibet for travellers. The flavor of Tibetan food is typically fresh, light, and tender and the main ingredients include salt, onion, and garlic. Visitors can enjoy cuisine from surrounding countries. Deji Road is a famous food street in Lhasa where travelers could taste all style of dishes such as Tibetan and Chinese foods as well as the exotic Indian, Nepalese and Western diets.

Tsamba

Tsamba is a traditional staple food of Tibetan and is a kind of dough made with roasted highland barley, pea and water. Tibetan butter tea, sour milk or Chang can also be enjoyed alongside this delicacy.

Air-dry Mutton and Beef

Dried meat is an extremely characteristic Tibetan food. At the end of every year, Tibetans cut red meats into small pieces or strips and then hang the strips in a shaded, covered area when the temperature falls below freezing. The meat remains edible until the following February/March, when it will be crisp and full of flavor.

Chang

Chang is a Tibetan alcoholic drink made from barley. It is loved by Tibetan people of all ages and both sexes, and is also a requisite drink during happy events and festivals. Although Chang has a light-fruit-like flavor, it is actually very strong. During a banquet, the host (whether male or female) would propose a toast while singing the toasting song.